Wilma Brown

Wilma Arlene Harris Brown, age 92, of Mineral Point formerly of Bagley, passed away on Monday, March 2, 2015, at the Mineral Point Care Center. She was born on February 3, 1923, in the town of Wyalusing, to Archie and Katie (Weed) Harris. Along with her 10 brothers and sisters, Wilma attended the Brodtville rural school for eight years. She graduated from Patch Grove High School in 1940, then returned there for a year as they had just added typing to the school curriculum. Wilma then attended Bayless Business College in Dubuque for a year, graduating from the secretarial course. She worked in Dubuque a year, returning home to help out after her mother died.

Wilma was employed at Bonn Law Office for three years. On April 5, 1948, she was united in marriage to Melvin L. Brown of Bagley. He built a home for them in Bagley where they lived for 18 years. They became the proud parents of Wendy Lee and Cheryl Ann. Wilma gave her full time to caring for them as well as making a comfortable home for her husband. They were a close-knit, happy, little family. Most evenings, 6:00 p.m. would find mother and daughters sitting on the front step watching down the street for Dad to come home. When they could see him, Mother let them loose and they ran to meet him. When Wendy and Cheryl were very young, Wilma would take them on picnics, picking wild flowers in the spring and wading in the creek.

In later years, Wilma worked 10 years at the Campion Jesuit High School, three summers at Wyalusing State Park and 10 years for the Bureau of Community Corrections, retiring at age 68. In 1965 the family moved to rural Bagley where they were living when Melvin passed away suddenly in 1993. Wilma resided in the country until 1998 when she moved to an apartment in Prairie du Chien. She became involved in many activities such as regular exercise programs to keep herself in a healthy condition in her final years. She joined the Senior Citizens Card Club and swimming pool activities.

Wilma was a member of the Bagley United Methodist Church and played the organ for over 40 years at church. Other activities she enjoyed were gardening, flowers, painting, reading, sewing and music. Wilma moved to Mineral Point in 2007.

Survivors include her daughters, Wendy (Greg) Puza and Cheryl (Gary) Kolman; grandchildren, Wade (Amy) Kolman and Tara (Josh) Kessenich; great-grandchildren, Ava, Maya, and Leo Kolman. Also surviving are many wonderful nieces, nephews, many friends and sister-in-law, Ruth Harris.

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, 10 brothers and sisters, great-granddaughter Ella Kolman, and her husband.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, March 7, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at the Bloomington United Methodist Church with Reverend Mary Ann Floerke officiating. Burial was in Bagley Cemetery, Bagley. Family and friends called on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the Martin Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Bloomington.